Temple Prep Class Inadequate?

[cinepro]

I always have to post this quote from President McKay in any discussion of Temple prep:

Do you remember when you first went through the House of the Lord? I do. And I went out disappointed. Just a young man, out of college, anticipating great things when I went to the Temple. I was disappointed and grieved, and I have met hundreds of young men and young women since who had that experience. I have now found out why. There are two things in every Temple: the mechanics, to set forth certain ideals, and symbolism, what those mechanics symbolize. I saw only the mechanics when I first went through the Temple. I did not see the spiritual. I did not see the symbolism of spirituality. Speaking plainly, I saw men, physical state, which offended me. That is a mechanic of washing....I was blind to the great lesson of purity behind the mechanics. I did not hear the message of the Lord, "Be ye clean who bear the vessels of the Lord." I did not hear that eternal truth, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." The symbolism was lost entirely....And so with the anointing, following the washing. Do you see the symbolism?...How many of us young men saw that? We thought we were big enough and with intelligence sufficient to criticize the mechanics of it and we were blind to the symbolism, the message of the spirit. And then that great ordinance, the endowment. The whole thing simple in the mechanical part of it, but sublime and eternal in its significance.

Address delivered by David O. McKay at the dedicatory services of the additions to the Arizona Temple, December 30, 1956, as cited in "David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism" page 277

And Tacenda, unless you're a time-traveling LDS from 1889, I think your reading of D&C 132 is way off.

[Freedom]

How did you

How the heck did you become a set apart missionary without having gone through the temple?? That's a pretty giant loophole to fall through.

No, this is quite common if there is no temple in your area. I know of missionaries who lived in Indonesia who did not get endowed until after their mission because the temple was too far away and too costly. Even now, many missionaries arrive at the MTC un-endowed.

[Tacenda]

There is simply no way one walks away with that interpretation by their self's after reading D&C 132. The only time I have seen this is from anti-Moron sources.

Come clean were did you hear this from?

Did you just call mormons morons? I thought that's what anti's do! No, just kiddin' you. I'm sure it was a mistake. I probably did read it somewhere on anti sites or places. But half way believed it because I'd always been told that it would be my choice. But today after reading the section in the D&C, like I've never done before, (just scanned over it), I gathered it to mean I do need to live it when I get to the CK. And when another poster very politely told me it was only to certain people not all, that the commandment would be given, I understood it a little better. I will forever come clean on MD&D because you people are some of the smartest guys & gals around.

Edited July 19, 2012 by Tacenda

[bluebell]

No, this is quite common if there is no temple in your area. I know of missionaries who lived in Indonesia who did not get endowed until after their mission because the temple was too far away and too costly. Even now, many missionaries arrive at the MTC un-endowed.

That makes sense. I guess i just never thought of Canada as the temple equivilant of indonesia.

I also can't believe that leaders wouldn't prepare such elders for what was coming (I mean, i believe Duncan's telling the truth, it just seems crazy!). It's nuts thinking of Duncan's friend not even knowing the temple existed or that he was going to have to be endowed in one before he left the MTC.

[Maidservant]

I feel like I have to keep saying this (my personal "cause" ), because I think it skews many other ideas, answers, questions, seekings, studies, perceptions unless one understands it (so I say).

No one will be "going" to the celestial kingdom.

We will become celestial (that word is a symbolism for our highest potential as children of God); and then the celestial kingdom will be wherever we are at, because we have made it so by our soul and our acts.

The reason that a marriage is a requirement for the celestial kingdom is because marriage is the highest experience for a human being (and the deepest hell when failing).

Indeed, a holy, loving (etc etc etc) marriage IS the celestial kingdom. What else would we possibly find in the celestial kingdom? The height of capitalism such as new cars, a remodeled house, a working washer and dryer?

No.

Only our love, the one from whom we could never part. THAT is the "celestial kingdom".

It is not about getting our Father in heaven's approval. It is about creating a celestial world--starting with ourselves, then our marriages, then our families, then our communities, then our world.

We are now in the process of transforming this hell on this planet into heaven.

And the main way we are doing that is marriage. A man for every woman, protecting her (etc etc etc); a woman for every man, delighting in him (etc etc etc).

The temple is a PATTERN to show us HOW to make this "walk" back into the celestial kingdom.

Added, p.s.: Which is what the "anti-Mormon" mind set will NEVER be able to understand--they don't get that the oil in the lamps of the ten virgins is not something that can be just dropped into a lamp; we have to get it for itself. Going to the temple IS (part of) getting that oil. You CAN'T get it just handed to you. You CAN'T just get the "celestial kingdom" handed to you like a reward. So every thing they thing they are challenging, contradicting and uncovering the truth about--they haven't even touched it! They don't even know what they are discussing! It's something inside each person, NOT something in words or in ritual or to be bought. Heaven cannot be BOUGHT, even by TOKENS (etc). But these rituals as we call them are a window into reality for those whose eyes are opened; and a stumbling block to those whose eyes are blind. Just like LIGHT can both uncover things and be so bright as to force one to close ones eyes, thus keeping things unrevealed.

Edited July 19, 2012 by Maidservant

[Duncan]

How did you

How the heck did you become a set apart missionary without having gone through the temple?? That's a pretty giant loophole to fall through.

The local Temple Cardston was closed for repairs, no one said anything to me about it until I got there. I knew though you had to be endowed but there wasn't a big push for me to get it done, I guess the Stake President figured I would get it done in Provo. But as for my friend here he had NO clue whatsoever about Temples and whatnot! haha!

[Freedom]

That makes sense. I guess i just never thought of Canada as the temple equivilant of indonesia.

I also can't believe that leaders wouldn't prepare such elders for what was coming (I mean, i believe Duncan's telling the truth, it just seems crazy!). It's nuts thinking of Duncan's friend not even knowing the temple existed or that he was going to have to be endowed in one before he left the MTC.

Today perhaps not so much but 30 years ago the only temple in Canada was in southern Alberta. Many missionaries left from Vancouver and got endowed when they entered the MTC, even though this temple was just 18 hours away.

[mnn727]

Is the Temple Prep Class inadequate? it can be, depends on the instructor -- I got a half hour instruction in the van on the way to the Temple (First experience was terrible) . I have been involved in our Ward where its a 12 hour class (2 hours each meeting 6 times)

Is Plural Marriage required in Heaven? No

[Duncan]

Today perhaps not so much but 30 years ago the only temple in Canada was in southern Alberta. Many missionaries left from Vancouver and got endowed when they entered the MTC, even though this temple was just 18 hours away.

yeah! Like when i was going to the MTC in spring 1998, with Cardston closed, the closet Temple was Toronto and that was 18 hours away, Chicago was about the same and I didn't have the funds for that or time to drive. My Brother was the same thing in 1991, Cardston was just too far away so he got endowed at the MTC. It was common here, as you know, if you couldn't get to Cardston or another Temple

Edited July 19, 2012 by Duncan

[bluebell]

The local Temple Cardston was closed for repairs, no one said anything to me about it until I got there. I knew though you had to be endowed but there wasn't a big push for me to get it done, I guess the Stake President figured I would get it done in Provo. But as for my friend here he had NO clue whatsoever about Temples and whatnot! haha!

Poor guy!

I had a companion on my mission who didn't know that we believed that we could become gods. We were having a discussion with a nice Lutheran minister on his doorstep and he brought it up and she launched into a lecture about how she wasn't going to waste time talking about anti-mormon lies. I was so confused about what she meant but it took a couple months before i put two and two together. We laughed about it eventually.

[Duncan]

That makes sense. I guess i just never thought of Canada as the temple equivilant of indonesia.

I also can't believe that leaders wouldn't prepare such elders for what was coming (I mean, i believe Duncan's telling the truth, it just seems crazy!). It's nuts thinking of Duncan's friend not even knowing the temple existed or that he was going to have to be endowed in one before he left the MTC.

He was a member for a year and I gather no one told him anything about it. He was from a very small Branch, in the middle of no where that isn't visited regularly by the stake leaders. It's too far north and travel is tough, even now. I had heard a rumour and I suppose I could verify its authenticity but he just went out, without any sense of you know having to pay for his mission! So the branch was extremely suprised to learn that X amount of money was missing from their account, and it seems he didn't know you had to pay for a mission. As I say I can't verify that, although I see him every once in a while and I will ask him about it. As you can tell he is a bit of a character!

[wenglund]

1. Make everyone perform Baptisms for the Dead first

2. Have a one hour class about it being from the creation to exaltion. That could be done using what is in the scripture.

3. Describe that the clothing is about being a king or queen. I think that is the number one shocker for people, just because they do not understand.

4. Make sure they have a guide they love and/or respect. If they can not get a loved family member to go with them, make it a requirement the Bishop or Stake President go with them.

5. When the Temple President talks to them before make it more about what is about to happen.

no particular order

---

Prior to entering the Temple I did not even take a Temple Prep class. I remember reading it on lds.org and was not impressed. All it did was repeat that it was about sybolism. Although that did help me it should have been a one hour lesson and not the focus of the whole class. I also did not do baptisms for the dead, which would have helped me realize the ritualistic nature of the Temple.

Then the day I walked in to the Temple I was nervous, did not know what to expect. The greatest fear is the fear of the unexpected. I like the statement an apostle made, paraphrasing, "when the time for action arrives the time for preparation is over." The fact that I worried means preparation failed me, both by myself and others. When I seen people in the halls walking around in their Temple clothes I was shocked.

The Temple is just so much different then the Church and growing up secular it was a shock. If it was not for my FIL being my guide, who at that time I love and respected, I would have walked out in the middle. It was not what I expected, heck, I did not know what to expect. It is only after going back again and really concentrating that I grew a great love for the Temple. The first trip I did not really focus on what was going on.

My first day at school was equally dis-settling, as was also the first time I got behind the wheel of a car, my first date, the first door I knocked on in my mission, my first job as a paperboy--particularly when it came time to collect, my first talk in Church, my first report in front of the class at school, my first recital, etc., etc.

To me, the dis-settling feelings are to be expected when first trying new things, and to some degree it is a good thing. I think we as a society have become overly sensitive to and protective of and too anxious to avoid unpleasantness, and may have become adverse to unpleasantness regardless of its benefits at times. We do ourselves a favor by oft pushing through the unpleasantness onto the benefits, as in your case.

I can see taking some preparatory steps to minimize the potential dis-settling feelings of a first-time temple experience. And, one of the best forms of preparations I can think of, isn't so much a temple prep class, but is to become okay with being dis-settled, and become used to being dis-settled through a series of first-time experiences with other things throughout one's childhood and youth.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Duncan]

Poor guy!

I had a companion on my mission who didn't know that we believed that we could become gods. We were having a discussion with a nice Lutheran minister on his doorstep and he brought it up and she launched into a lecture about how she wasn't going to waste time talking about anti-mormon lies. I was so confused about what she meant but it took a couple months before i put two and two together. We laughed about it eventually.

oh man! hahahahahaha! I had a comp from Lehi, Utah who thought that Jesus was born in Salt Lake City and that the Church disavowed the Pearl of Great Price. Once while tracting a Catholic Priest answered the door in his ful I don't know what they call it, black pants, black shirt and white collar and my comp asked him what he did for work....

[wenglund]

Today perhaps not so much but 30 years ago the only temple in Canada was in southern Alberta. Many missionaries left from Vancouver and got endowed when they entered the MTC, even though this temple was just 18 hours away.

That was my experience as well, though I lived in the Seattle area at the time.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[mfbukowski]

Thanks for that answer, I'm a person that has to be told something over and over again (my husband can vouch). But still confused a bit. I was of the understanding that it isn't commanded in this life, but isn't it in the next? As per your statement of the many presidents of the LDS church. Ok, it just hit me, so it is in the hereafter where we may be chosen to live this commandment if the Lord God sees fit? I see now where you are saying we are not commiting to do so when going through the temple. Thanks!

Just for the sake of saying so- I agree that this is the correct position. It is not required, at least not in this life. And remember we will retain our agency in the next life, so it will never be "required" in the sense of being forced in any way.

[mfbukowski]

I think it's inadequate, but not because of anything having to do with polygamy, D&C 132, etc. I once complained to the stake presidency about its inadequacy because a recent convert sister had been "weirded out" when receiving her own endowment. I was told that I am the gatekeeper, and it's my job to properly prepare people, not the class's. Since then, I have had a detailed, involved talk with people before issuing a recommend for living ordinances (while still not discussing things I have covenanted not to, of course). There is an awful lot that *can* be discussed that will help people have proper expectations and "head off at the pass" potential concerns.

I explain that we participate in a drama where we identify ourselves with Adam and Eve. The drama covers the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement, and the Restoration ----- and everything that we do fits within this general overview. We make covenants within this ---- covenants which are not new; they are all in the scriptures. We wear symbolic clothing that is also scriptural. Many of the symbols have personal meaning that varies with each individual and they are the work of a lifetime and frequent temple worship to derive personal meaning. Etc., etc.

This sister is actually now our newly-called Relief Society president, and is doing very, very well (she previously served in two young women's presidencies).

Agreed- when I was a bishop 7 months ago, I did the same thing. I was as detailed as I felt I could be, and in doing so, I never had anyone "weirded out"

[tyler90az]

My first day at school was equally dis-settling, as was also the first time I got behind the wheel of a car, my first date, the first door I knocked on in my mission, my first job as a paperboy--particularly when it came time to collect, my first talk in Church, my first report in front of the class at school, my first recital, etc., etc.

To me, the dis-settling feelings are to be expected when first trying new things, and to some degree it is a good thing. I think we as a society have become overly sensitive to and protective of and too anxious to avoid unpleasantness, and may have become adverse to unpleasantness regardless of its benefits at times. We do ourselves a favor by oft pushing through the unpleasantness onto the benefits, as in your case.

I can see taking some preparatory steps to minimize the potential dis-settling feelings of a first-time temple experience. And, one of the best forms of preparations I can think of, isn't so much a temple prep class, but is to become okay with being dis-settled, and become used to being dis-settled through a series of first-time experiences with other things throughout one's childhood and youth.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

All of those things you listed do not have the high expectations attached as the Temple does.

[Duncan]

I tell a lie. My friend who didn't know about the Temple did know about finances!!

[Deborah]

I always have to post this quote from President McKay in any discussion of Temple prep:

When my son and his wife went through for the first time he was very disappointed as well. He said he expected some new revelation. I explained that the revelation comes as one attends and feels the spirit. I gave the analogy of the Israelites needing to look up at the serpent to be saved. It was so simple many didn't do it and died. The temple ceremony on the surface appears simple but after many years of going I continue to get new insights. My son and his wife are now avid temple goers.

[Calm]

That makes sense. I guess i just never thought of Canada as the temple equivilant of indonesia.

Canada is really, really big.

[Calm]

Just for the sake of saying so- I agree that this is the correct position. It is not required, at least not in this life. And remember we will retain our agency in the next life, so it will never be "required" in the sense of being forced in any way.

And the time of 'testing' will be done with so the only things God will ask of/provide for us are those things that will bring us more happiness.

[cinepro]

Did you just call mormons morons? I thought that's what anti's do!

On another forum (totally unrelated to religion), someone shared this experience from a class:

..., however, in class the other day one kid was trying to be a wise *** (aka teenaged boy) and commented that he liked the idea of multiple wives so he wanted to become a "moron".

He even spelled it for us.

Someone suggested that he already was.

[sjdawg]

I think it is absolutely inadequate but not due to any conversations about polygamy.

[rongo]

Freedom:

I have people read Exodus Chapter 29 and show them pictures depicting the outfit warn by High Priests in the Old Testament.

Yes, the Harry Anderson painting. I have a Gospel Art kit in the office, and I use that picture and some others in preparing people for the symbolic clothing.

cinepro:

I always have to post this quote from President McKay in any discussion of Temple prep:

I use that David O. McKay talk as well, and sometimes give people a copy of it. The point he makes between connotation and denotation with symbols is a really good explanation. I have a .pdf file of it on another computer at home; maybe I'll post it later.

[rongo]

Agreed- when I was a bishop 7 months ago, I did the same thing. I was as detailed as I felt I could be, and in doing so, I never had anyone "weirded out"

Well, this was a wake-up call for me. This sister is salt of the earth (like I said, she's the new Relief Society president, and is in her fifth year as a member), and it bothered me that she had had a negative experience. I'm just glad she was comfortable telling me about it, and what bothered her. Her concerns are completely overcome now.

In fact, we just did our annual summer sister temple trip last week, where a few brave men and I watch 25+ kids for ca. seven hours at the church so lots of sisters can go during the day together without having to get daytime babysitting. What I learned from this experience was that people getting "weirded out" is mostly avoidable with proper preparation, but that we all have the responsibility to help people and not rely on the anemic temple prep class curriculum.